Little Peasant Dresses & Stockings

Today, I released my latest pattern - Little Peasant Dress & Stockings.    It's been a fun and creative week for me, designing , sewing, and adding all of the touches to my little vision.  Sure,  little girl dresses have always been a favorite for so many of us to use in our cozy and homey decor.   Some of  may have made dresses before.  I wanted to do some in my own creative way and share the process with you with a pattern package.

                 Rustic, Tattered & Torn .  Some, rather authentic looking, others, more "artistic" 

                    Aged Linen and other rustic textiles make the most wonderful little dresses

                                                                   Grain-sack style

                 Sweet Stockings for Autumn.  I've been inspired by  "Anne with an E" on Netflix
                    I love her spirit ! Especially her love of nature. She is quite the creative girl  !
                                    I've never read Anne of Green Gables.   I will someday. 

                                I love this quote from "Anne"  I"m an October Girl myself ! 

                                            Random Patches and crude, simple stitches.

               Stenciling, Leaf Printing, More simple stitching on this Ginger colored Linen Dress.

                                                          The "Rutabaga" Dress

                      Hey.... A little color !  ( smiles)    These Autumn stockings are SO fun !
You can learn how I made the Peasant dresses and stockings in my pattern package.  Available as instant download OR Printed/Delivered to your mailbox . I include  sources, tips and my techniques.   For such a simple and easy to make pattern,  It turned out to be a 12 pager ! 
Lots of info and some helpful pictures. 
Visit my Cinnamon Creek Folk Art  Etsy shop,  Get yourself  a pattern or two, and enjoy doing some of your OWN CreaTinG ! 
                                         I'm so glad you stopped by !  Thank you ! 
                                                                   Dru Ann

A Fresh Start

Hello ! 

Here I am again , all ready for a fresh new week , Full of thoughts and ideas .  I feel so very blessed that I can do what I love for a living.  I get so excited about every little thing !  My biggest problem is that I cannot organize my thoughts.  I just want to do it all !  I'm trying to train my brain to slow down, take one thing at a time and enjoy each project, live in the moment, without thinking about what's next.   I want to be as cool and laid back as my sweet Elijah Cat.  Doesn't he look so happy and peaceful  in this picture?  That's his favorite resting spot , there atop my cubby by my worktable.  He keeps me company while I create. 

Last week was a mess !   My main goal right now is to design new patterns to offer you.  I get many requests for tutorials and how-to's, so, I thought.... Heck, I'll just photo or video as I go along making the examples of these patterns to share on this blog .  Well,  It just didn't work out for me.   I wasted a whole day simply trying to set up my camera to video me stitching some faces.   16 tries and the day was gone !  Ha ! I'll have to learn some video skills before I attempt that again.   But, I will be sharing some good photo demonstrations soon on some of my techniques that you might like to see. 

Also on my mind, is the thought of combining my 2 online business into one,Somehow. 

  CINNAMON CREEK FOLK ART  , being my pattern line, and A FINE FARMHOUSE , where I sell my finished goods from time to time. I want to be able to keep my Fine Farmhouse Website more active, yet, I don't have time to keep good things made up to sell all the time.   I"m considering a few different things to make improvements there, and even start stocking my patterns there as well as Etsy.  Because, I truly love having my own Website !  

I LoVe making so many different things.  Many of you know I started out way back in the early 1980's making cloth folk art.   Sold in the wholesale market for many years, then I decided I did not want to mass produce anymore.   No way, no how !   I have enjoyed many years since then, being able to make whatever is in my heart.  Lots of one of a kinds. Things made of cloth or paper.  I really love making things with old images.  It's been fun to share some of that with you all with my printable packages.  I've got other ideas for paper projects for you coming up in the near future. 

So, I will get on with my day now.  FOCUS on one project at a time. Save my daydreaming and planning for the evening when I'm done. Todays project is another pattern design.  I have some samples started and hope to have a new one or two ready to offer in the Etsy shop in a few days. 

I'm happy that many of you have been getting my latest patterns !  And, older ones too !  I truly appreciate you all !  That Pumpkin in the Urn is my newest favorite ! 

Have a most wonderful day ,  I hope you can slow down and enjoy each moment as I intend to do ! 

Dru Ann

Sock Head Santa

Today I am showing you how I make those sock heads on "Old Tattered Santa" and "Good Night Santa"

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You should use a cotton or cotton blend sock with a tight weave.  A ladies sock is best.   Cut it  in half, or, at the heal as shown.

Stuff fairly firmly with fiberfill.  I always use "Morning Glory" fiberfill. It stays where you put it and doesn't shift like that other slick brand.   It takes a couple of big handfuls for this head.  Shape it as you go and then tie off at the end with jute or any twine. 

With a long darning or embroidery needle and full strand of embroidery floss ( cream or light tan ), you will begin the nose.   Use the picture of a guide how to start towards the top , about a 1/2'' across, gathering some of that stuffing underneath. Pull that needle and thread through tightly.  Once you get your first stitch through, Run it back through, and back and forth, pulling tight. You may want to hold it with your fingers as you go along.

Keep doing that until the nose is about 1 1/4'' long.

At the bottom of the nose,hold your thread as shown, giving it a slight curve.  Pull your needle through , and pull up....

I honestly am having a hard time describing how to do this.  I  know a video may be best, but, not possible at this time.
Once you have the stitch in as in above picture, run your needle up to the forehead area as shown, pull tightly to give the bottom of the nose a somewhat rounded end.

Now you will begin indentions for the eyes and giving it somewhat of a forehead.....

Run your needle back and forth from that eye area ( see where I started... a tad bit away from the nose at the top)   Run that needle up , always through an amount of the stuffing underneath to give it some depth.   You are ending your needle up at the top of the head.  That will be covered up, so no need to worry about what it looks like up there. ..... 

Keep going until you get the look going on here in these pictures.    I really hope I''m helping... It may just take a little practice for you to get the feel of it.  Once you play with it a bit, I know you'll get it ! 

When you are all done running those stitches through on both sides.  End up at the top of the head and sew a tight knot to secure.

Look ... It is not perfect, and looks really silly at this point...but, trust me... It will be great when that beard gets on ! 

Now give him a little mouth, using the same method.  It doesn't need to look like much,  You just want  the hint of  a mouth once the mustache and beard goes on.

Now, it's time to paint the head.   My all time favorite paint for Santa Faces is this Ceramcoat AC Flesh.

Just apply a nice even coat of paint all over face and even the back of the head/neck area.

Once your flesh color is dry, paint eyes on as shown.  I'm sorry these next few pictures are a little out of order.  I'm still learning how to set this up.  See below for paint color. You should use a soft white shade of craft paint.  

Simply use a tiny liner brush and paint an shape of an eyeball . As you see, I cannot do perfect shapes.  It is impossible for me.  However,  these are primitive Santas.  Have fun , and do the best you can and it will be wonderful !   

I have had a few requests for a diagram for eyes and features.   I think these pictures will help.  I get the feeling that some of you are scared and uptight about doing faces.  You may want to practice and play a little with it all.  I want you to have fun with it !  

I like blue eyed Santas. You could do brown if you like.  With  a tiny brush,  paint the iris of the eye. Just little circles as shown. 

Outline the eyes with  brown paint.   I know...this really does not look that good, but, when you get the final aging coat on , it will all blend in ! 

Add black pupils with black paint or a sharpie marker as shown.  You may also wish to add a teensy white dot in each pupil to add a little gleam to his eye. 

For the cheeks... use a piece of foam or sponge, dab into a little  dark red paint. Dab on paper to  remove excess and then,  blush his cheeks and his lips. 

It looks so silly !   Dude looks like a lady at this point !   Smiles !
Let this all dry really well, and then we will age it !  

Okay... so now, you need to brush water or light coffee stain over the entire painted area.  While wet, brush on a light, dirty brown paint over it all.  Wipe any access off immediately.  You just want to tone that face down so it isn't so bright.  Remember , you can always refer to my tips and techniques page in my patterns for further aging ideas. 

Once the the head is dry and ready,  add your beard and mustache.   I prefer to stitch mine on, however, sometimes hot glue is best ( as much as I hate to use a glue gun )  it comes in handy for applying the eyebrows and getting that wool just where you need it. 

I truly hope that this has helped you.  I look at this picture and see that, as with all of my Santa faces.  It definitely is not perfect.   The eyes are not set just right, but, I can re-adjust that by shifting the nose.  I'm leaving it as it is on here for a few reasons....to show you that it's okay, and it will all work out in the end, you just need to re-adjust things as you go along.  PLUS,  I am simply not feeling well today and I'm doing the best I can.  I promised I'd get this to you guys ! 

I do look forward to fixing up the blog better and better and it will be fun to start doing weekly posts, more tutorials and fun things along the way. 

Thank you ALL so much for your support and enthusiasm for what I do !   

Happy Creating ! Have fun ! AND Be as original as you can.... You can always use these guidelines, but, I love seeing others do things their way and doing it better than Me ! 

Dru Ann

ps..... If you feel that I've left something out, and want more information, I'll do my best to help you. You can leave a comment to let me know.